Publication

Russia's annexation of Crimea and support for the separatists in eastern Ukraine have changed the security landscape in the Nordic-Baltic region, placing it under increasing strain. This brief looks at what NATO and the US can do to help address this challenge. The author argues that the US must, first and foremost, bolster assurance among NATO members, principally the Baltic States. It and NATO should also strengthen its capabilities by enhancing collaboration, leveraging soft power instruments, and finding mutuality between NATO and its key partners, Finland and Sweden. He then describes 1) the benefits of the transatlantic cooperation on Nordic-Baltic security; and 2) how to translate the theory of closer cooperation between the US and the Baltic states into practice.